S. Sudanese peace talks moving slowly despite deadline – rebels
March 1, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The peace talks between warring parties in South Sudan, which is duped as the last round by the East African regional mediation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), is moving at a snail’s pace despite the imposed 5 March dateline which is only three days away.
“Thematic committees from the two delegations could not make much progress and have on Sunday submitted their report on areas of agreements and disagreements to the leadership committee,” a rebel source close to the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.
He said there was no much agreement on security arrangements and economic reforms as the two delegations only reiterated their previous agreement to withdraw foreign troops from the country.
The source further said that the leadership committee composed of membership from the two warring sides started to discuss the report from the thematic committees to confirm areas of agreements and try to harmonise disagreements.
Substantial areas of disagreements include federal system of governance which the rebel group wanted to be incorporated in a final peace agreement and implemented during the would-be transitional period together with various reforms.
Government delegation however said federalism would only be deferred to permanent constitutional making process for consideration.
The parties could not also agree on critical security sector reforms including the need for the two rival armies to have separate commands at least during the pre-transitional period before gradual amalgamation into one army during the two and a half years of transitional period leading to elections.
The thematic committees did not agree on wealth-sharing and disclosure of national debts as government delegation refused to share the amount it has borrowed as well as from which sources and for which purposes or projects so as for the two parties to agree on how to tackle the debts.
Other outstanding issues on leadership structure and power-sharing as well as civil service reforms, accountability and reconciliation were not yet resolved.
The leadership committee is expected to submit all the sticking points to the two principals, Kiir and Machar, by Monday in order to have direct negotiations in resolving them in the next two days before the 5 March dateline.
President Kiir is expected to travel to Addis Ababa on Monday to meet Machar.
(ST)